I believe this to be false.



Once ANY part of the fuel is ignited, it starts a chain reaction. It is not like the part of the fuel that burns the easiest starts burning then as temperatures get high enough the rest catches on fire. As soon as one molecule is broken down, all the energy holding it together is released and effects all the molecules next to it, lighting them off. The amount of heat given off in any one molecule combustion reaction of acetone or gasoline is enough to set off all the molecules around it. All the fuel burns as one. Since it is a homogenous mixture, it burns at an even rate.



I'd really like to point this out. Gasoline does not explode, it burns in an even controlled rate inside the cylinder if the gasoline ever does explode, engine damage results.



Knocking is the spontaneous combustion of the remaining fuel, us normal folk not talking about cars call this an explosion. Octane is used to resist combustion from temperature and pressure. That is why you use it in a high compression engine; there is more pressure and heat.




It easily can be done with a dyno and some good computer software. I'm very skeptical about what you just posted (I believe you quoted it from another source). It is full of falsities and just plain made up words like "negative catalysts". I think the guys playing around with acetone are just throwing stuff together without knowing what they are doing first.

That's okay Sunder, and no, this is from me, not copied from some other source. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> Just a poorly educated chemist attempting to understand and discuss openly my limited knowledge.
I think that gasous acetone or even wood alchol would combust at different pressure/temperature than gasoline causing multiple "explosions" or combustions, even in a homogeneous gaseous mixture. I'm not sure, though. The fact that if too much heptane is used in the gasoline blend, knocking, or multiple combustions, will be more pronounced/noticeable. Possibly, the gaseous homogeneous mixture would combust at one pressure/temperature? The point about gasoline being a blend, and the more octane, C8H18 molecules, type fuel used in the blend, the less knocking, or multiple combustions will occur, I'm pretty sure is correct. Knocking is a term that is used to discuss multiple combustions in the engine's cylinders. That's my limited understanding. I believe it, combustion, is explosions, the pressure/temperature rapidly releases the energy held in the molecular bonds. Burning fuels is a violent release of the chemical energy stored in the chemical bonds that hold the organic molecules together. The energy is released as light, sound, heat, . . .
Octane is a molecule, you're confusing it with the octane rating system; a gasoline of 100% octane (C8H18) has a rating of 100%. Airplane fuels usually have an octane rating of 120% (different blend). anti-knock additives work the opposite of a catalyst, ie., negative catalyst. Rather than promote sites for combustion to take place, negative catalysts inhibit sites for combustion to take place.
If you haven't noticed, I ain't putting acetone in my vehicles . . . I'm not a proponent of this, I simply brought it to the board because I thought it was interesting! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

sunder said,

The encyclopedia says,






Y'all are probably right. I must be imagining the numbers on the gas pump and hitting the wrong numbers on the calculator. I think I will keep checking anyway. I just filled up the CJ, 184 miles town and country driving, no interstate, including several hours offroad in low range, took 11 gals. My mileage, 16.5 MPG. I see real improvement with the CJ. Believe it or don't. I'm happy! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Right, Sunder. I didn't say I believed it. I said (and got the spelling wrong) that "there are too many... reports to completely dismiss it." It smells a lot better than most voodoo. It's kinda like milk that's not quite fresh, but not quite spoiled either. You know... like milk you'd use to make pancakes. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cyclops.gif" alt="" />

Say... forget adding acetone to our gas. Let's add pure maple syrup to our pancakes. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/oink.gif" alt="" /> I know that makes me run better! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Jeepete, thank you for the reminder . . . I tend to think in terms of just getting chemical products to react. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> Catalysts are generally used to speed up chemicals reaction times! Conversely, then, anti-knock additives are slowing down the rate the energy is being released from the fuels. Any longer-chain hydrocarbon added to the gasoline mixture will help to prevent knocking. This makes me wonder what is a good gasoline, and what is bad gasoline? And, old gasoline, why does it perform poorly? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Hey, Jeepete! I almost always attempt to let some one else try something new before I try it! However, this doesn't apply to absolutely everything in life, such as my beer or dinner. Women, who really knows! I don't worry too much about that sort of thing! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />
Hey, if this acetone treatment works well enough to improve mpg, at least for a short period of time, great . . . it's a lot cheaper than the occassional minature can of B.F. gunck sold in automotive stores and pushed by mechanics! Who knows, fuel treatment may be something simple or similar to acetone? I've never looked into it. We know methanol has its uses, and it's a great product for those Jeeps in the Northern Tier States and Canada (and, of course, Newfoundland, too!)a little Canadian humor <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. Let us know if there is any obvious softening of plastic or rubber gas-lines. That seems to be the only negative comment thus far, that I have found. Someone, or somewhere, I read that it may have an effect of exhaust gases and catalytic converter . . . but I don't think it should where the acetone, like octane, heptane, and other gasoline fuels are oxidized to CO, CO2, and water. I appreciate you checking out the potential of this gasoline treatment.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

I guess I should have looked harder, I knew what a catalyst is from chem, but I have never seen a negative catalyst. So I grabbed my chem book and tried finding negative catalyst in it, I couldnÆt so assumed that I probably wasn't a true word. We always adjusted reaction speeds with temperature. I'm not sure what chemical could be used to slow down the decomposition during combustion.

I must stick to "gasoline does not explode" It really does burn. It burns from the spark plug out in a controlled fashion. It is only a couple of milli-seconds (about 3 on average) and it is effected by things like compression ratio, ambient temp, bore size.. ETC. The whole reason why we have timing advance is to give the gas enough time to burn and exert pressure before the exhaust valve opens.

I would never put it in my car, but if you feel it helps, why not... Acetone is cheap.

this whole argument is absurd ...bottom line is that while you may see a gain its only because it may have done some cleaning ....acetone doesnt have the same properties as far as combusting as pump gas ....while the mixing of the 2 can be an argument that will help you id love to see that ....but if anything logic would say that it would raise your flash point thus changing your timming and while it was allready said that its not good for prolonged us ....why mess with your ignition to run it for a small amount time....the time wasted in this post i could have made an extra 20$ ........a good fuel cleaner like the ones you buy are jet fuel....bassically a cleaner verson od deisel.....thats why it doesn't hurt your fuel system ...also that stuff is not to be used all the time ....just face it guys you are driving a square box on tires ...lets stop trying to make it a hybrid and get 35MPG ...why chance runing some parts to gain 2 MPG <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" />

I enjoy a good argument. That is how I learn.

good point sunder ......i was fustrated from work so i ranted ..... im good now so id like to see som more evidence ....and BTW did you get my PM's about the you know what situation? ...doesnt matter ....let continue this acetone debate.... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I think BJ will know what I am talking about when I say Texans have been adding diesel to our gas engines for years and I am sure it has an even better effect than nail polish remover. Probley the same concept. My dad swears by it. Add a little diesel every few fill ups to keep your engine running clean. He says it burns hotter and will clean things up.